Keeping it real.. wrote:
Yiannis 100 mile PR was on the road, not on a track. Big difference!
Yiannis also ran numerous track races and never broke 11:46.
Wilson Kipsang would not run sub-10 hours for 100 miles. Some Kenyans might run around 11 flat with proper training, but sub-6 pace for 100 miles is absurd. Keep in mind that the Japanese have been the best at 50 mile+ road races, historically, due to their immensely high mileage training. The world record for 100km is held by Takahiro Sunada, who ran 61:23 for 13.1 and 2:10:07 for 26.2. Even with his absolutely monstrous high mileage training specifically targeted at 100 km races, his 100km world record is over 6:00/mile pace.
Kenyans could drop the 100 mile record; I am not disputing that. They could not, however, drop it to anywhere near 10:00. If Kipsang, the Mutais, Kebede, and a few other top guys all raced 100 miles with ample time to feel comfortable racing the distance, a big cash prize to the winner, and large time bonuses, I'd put the over/under at 11:00, and I'd pick Kebede as the winner.
Wasn't Ryan Hall talking about attacking the Rim to Rim to Rim record a couple years back? I'd be really interested to see what he could do in 50/100 mile races once he gets sick of marathons. If he doesn't make it to the starting line healthy in the spring, I wouldn't be surprised if he just decided to take up longer races.